Altnaglevin Hospital, Londonderry - 22 November 2011

1.0 Inspection Summary
An unannounced inspection was undertaken to Altnagelvin Hospital,
on the 22 November 2011. The hospital was assessed against the
Regional Healthcare Hygiene and Cleanliness standards and the
following areas were inspected:
Ward 3 - Respiratory
Ward 8 - Orthopaedic
Ward 31 - Planned Surgery
Ward 40 - Stroke
Altnagelvin Area Hospital is an acute hospital which offers a range of
services, including a 24-hour Accident and Emergency Department.
The hospital is currently undergoing a major redevelopment
programme consisting of a new build and refurbishment of older wards.
The main hospital building is made up of a tower block with a number
of adjoining new extensions accommodating the outpatients
department, day case unit, medical imaging, theatres, surgical wards,
maternity ward, oncology unit, physiotherapy department. The wards
inspected were a mix of new and old buildings, Ward 3 had just been
refurbished and had only reopened the week before the inspection.
Inspection Outcomes
Overall the inspection teams found evidence that Altnagelvin Area
Hospital is working to comply with the Regional Healthcare Hygiene
and Cleanliness standards. However inspectors found that further
improvement is required in the following areas.
Wards, 3, 31 and 40 achieved an overall compliant score and Ward 8
achieved an overall partially compliant score. Inspectors observed that
the environment in the three wards which were compliant was
generally clean and maintained to a satisfactory standard, however in
Ward 8 more attention to detail was required when cleaning as a
significant number of issues were identified for improvement.
In Ward 8 three standards were minimally compliant, patient linen,
sharps and patient equipment, and three standards were partially
compliant, all require immediate action to reach an acceptable
standard.
In Wards 3, 31 and 40 the standard on patient equipment, and in
Wards 3 and 40 the standard on safe handling and disposal of sharps
were partially compliant which indicates that more work is required to
improve practice.
All wards were compliant in the segregation and storage of waste
standard which is to be commended.
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